YOUR STORY MATTERS

Calling for Immigrant and Refugee Stories

Are you a New American in Lincoln interested in telling your story? The Cultural Centers of Lincoln, the Lincoln/Lancaster County Welcoming & Belonging Strategic Plan, and the University of Nebraska Press invite immigrant and refugee community members to submit personal essays for a literary anthology publication about their immigration and resettlement experiences to Lincoln, Nebraska.

Community members may submit personal essays about any aspect of their immigration and resettlement experiences to Lincoln. Middle school and high school students, young adults, adults, and senior citizens are encouraged to submit their personal essays. Essays can be written in the author’s preferred language, English is not required.

Selected essays will be published in a book titled New Nebraskans: Tales of Migration, Hope, Grief, Exile, and Home.

Workshops

Need help getting started? Check out an upcoming workshop at the Asian Community & Cultural Center (144 N 44th St. Suite A) from 1pm – 2:30pm on Dec 7, Jan 11, Feb 1, March 1, April 5.

Benefits

Each essayist in the publication will receive 10 free copies of the book and a lifetime discount of 40% off on all books published by the University of Nebraska Press!

Send story submissions to

[email protected]

Attn: Lisa Guill
Asian Community & Cultural Center
144 N 44th St Suite A
Lincoln, NE 68503

Deadline for submissions is March 31, 2024

Suggested length of essay:

Youth Experiences: 3-7 pages double-spaced (1000-3000 words)

Young Adult, Adult, and Senior Experiences: 7-15 pages double-spaced (1500‑6000 words)

FAQs

Any Lincoln resident who was born outside the United States and is at least 12 years old.

No, essay submissions do not need to be in English. Writers can submit their stories in their preferred language. Professional translators will be hired to write English translations of entries.

You don’t have to be a writer! Anyone interested in participating in the project as an author can stop in at a workshop to ask questions, learn more, and get help starting their essay.

Personal narratives can be very difficult to write! Our team of published professionals can help you shape your story in a way that’s authentic to you.

No. This project is specifically seeking first person stories of individuals who come from other countries and now live in Lincoln, Nebraska.

You do not need to be a great or confident writer to submit your story. We are looking for honest and compelling stories about immigrant and refugee experiences settling in Lincoln. Your story matters!

Lincoln has a long tradition of welcoming newcomers to our city. As the number of immigrant and refugee families in our city grows and the legacy of welcoming continues, sharing the stories of new neighbors will help build understanding and connection in our community.

Publications of this kind are small and yield very little profit, if any. For this reason, the following benefits will be offered to the published writers: Each essayist in the publication will receive 10 free copies of the book and a lifetime discount of 40% off on all books published by the University of Nebraska Press.

The University of Nebraska Press will donate any earnings to support the work of the Lincoln/Lancaster County Welcoming & Belonging Strategic Plan.

There will be approximately 15-25 stories included in the book.